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IndyCar awards almost $1 million to each team with a car finishing inside the top 22 in the standings. That fight is hotting up and Jack Benyon explains why there’s more to lose this year than before…
The battle for the IndyCar championship is intense this year, with Alex Palou as the favorite, despite facing a challenging schedule with four ovals in the final five races. Alongside the championship fight, there’s another lucrative battle brewing known as the Leaders’ Circle, where the top 22 cars in the championship standings are rewarded with nearly $1 million at the end of the year under a contract between the teams and the series. The Leaders’ Circle plays a crucial role this year due to rising costs post introduction of the new hybrid unit in the second half of the season. Furthermore, discussions on introducing a franchise system in IndyCar, similar to NASCAR’s charter system, are ongoing, adding another layer of complexity for teams and drivers. The decision on whether to use the Leaders’ Circle as the basis for awarding charters could significantly impact the future structure of IndyCar entries and the teams’ financial stability. With only a few races remaining, the battle for the Leaders’ Circle spots is intense, with every team aiming to secure their position in the top 22 for various strategic and financial reasons.
